Hallam FC

Hallam cast aside the disappointment of that midweek Senior Cup defeat to Swinton Athletic with a come from behind 3-1 win at near-neighbours Dronfield Town on Saturday. The win sees the Countrymen up to tenth in Toolstation Division One, write Ian Jones and Glenn Poulton for www.hallamfc.uk

A crowd of 116 saw the visitors threaten early on, with Mark Wilson and Reece Treasure clattering the crossbar in the early stages, and Dronfield’s Callum Mawbey following suit shortly after ; but it was the home side, fresh from their excellent home win over high-flying Campion in midweek who hit the front after 43 minutes, as Mawbey fed Daniel Wood to strike the opener with half time beckoning.

It didn’t take long for Manager Stephen Whitehead’s team talk to pay dividends, as Jordan Turner forced the equaliser home from close range two minutes in to the second half-his fourteenth goal of the season; and on 66 minutes Sam Smith pounced to head Hallam in front from Micah Bishop’s excellent cross.

Whitehead; “I thought we were good value for the three points”

It was Bishop who made sure that the three points headed back on the Dronfield by-pass with the visitor’s third with fifteen minutes left, to leave Manager Stephen Whitehead in upbeat mood when he spoke to Ian and Glenn at the full-time whistle.

Stephen, you must be a whole lot happier after that result .Dronfield is always a tough place to go, so how did you see the ninety minutes ?

I thought we were good value for the three points; the lads got a rocket as soon as they were all sat down and I walked into the changing room. They knew what we expected of them and we got the reaction. The bar has been set and we can’t fall under that level now; if we carry on that way, we will be fine.

You conceded just before half time but roared out of the blocks in that second period. Did you change anything at the break?

We didn’t change anything as we were on top for long periods of the first half. We got hit with a sucker punch on the break, but I didn’t see that we were doing anything wrong. I just told them to keep going and that the quality we have in the changing room would come through -and it did.

Next up is a home game with Armthorpe who are quietly going about their business and surprising a few people. What should we be looking out for at Sandygate next week?

Yeah Armthorpe are churning out results so we will have to play well again. We must get to the levels we did against Dronfield and play in the same way.

I’m sure the lads now know the expectations, so I look forward to Saturday- and hopefully a positive result.

                                                Stephen Whitehead was talking to www.hallamfc.uk